First Washington Heat Wave of the Year to Trigger New Heat Rules for Outdoor Workers

Forecast temperatures in Washington this week are exapted to will trigger protections designed to prevent heat-related illness in agriculture, landscaping, construction, and other outdoor jobs.

The forecasted temperatures above 90 degrees in Eastern Washington mean the rules, overseen by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, require frequent breaks, access to shade and water cool enough to drink.

The state heat rules include protections for outdoor workers that kick in at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with additional requirements when there is high heat. The rules also require close observation of all workers anywhere temperatures are 80 degrees or higher and 10 or more degrees above the average temperatures for the last five days.

At or above 80 degrees, employers are required to:

• Encourage and allow workers to take paid cool-down rest periods as needed;
• Provide enough shade or other way of cooling down for all employees on a meal or rest break to use;
• Provide enough cool drinking water for each employee to drink a quart per hour;
• Closely observe new employees, employees returning from absences, and all employees during heat waves.

At or above 90 degrees, employers must require a 10-minute paid cool down rest period every two hours. When the temperature reaches 100 degrees or higher, the requirement for breaks becomes 15-minutes of paid cool down rest every hour.

L&I updated its heat protection rules last year, lowering the trigger temperature from 89 to 80 degrees and making the rules effective year-round based on temperature.

Topics Washington